Means for stiffening textile fabrics



. sufficiently obtained UNHTED STATES OSKAR LOBECK, OF LEIPZIG, GERMANY, ASSIGNOR, BY MESNE ASSIGNMENTS, TO THE. CHEMICAL FOUNDATION, INC., A CORPORATION OF DELAWARE.

PATENT @FFHQE.

MEANS FOR STIFFENING TEXTILE FABRICS.

No Drawing.

To all whom it may concern Be it known that I, OsKARLoBEoK, a citizen of the German Empire, and residing at Leipzig, Germany, have invented certain new and useful Means for stiffening Textile Fabrics, (for which I have made application in Germany April 29, 1916; in Austria Dec. 16, 1916), of which the following is a specification.

For stiffening linen and other textile fabrics starch has heretofore almost exclusively been used in households, in spite of various disadvantages being connected with its use. F or example, as is well known, in the process generally used in households it is difficult to steep and dissolve starch in such a manner that lumps, i. e. incompletely dissolved pieces of starch, are entirely avoided. Large or small lumps are frequently precip itated on the linen to be stiffened, constitute considerable deposits which readily break ofi after drying and then render the linen unsightly and even lead to injury to it. It is also well known that ordinary starch renders linen articles dull and thereby imparts an undesired appearance particularly to colored articles.

A primary object of my invention is to provide improved means for stiffening linen adapted for household use, to which the above described defects of starch are not attached.

To this end I make use of colloidal gelatinous substances, which I use alone or together with a small quantity of other sub stances for stiffening linen or other textile fabrics. The employment of such substances, for example gelatin and also albumin, is not unknown in itself in the art of finishing, the same having been used particularly in connection with starch. In such cases, however, no stiffening action was really connected with the use of the gelatinous substances. Indeed they were only employed in the stiffening means when owing to the use of other admixtures, particularly a fairly large quantity of spermacetti, cetin, fat and the like, it is desired to improve the requisite emulsive state that is not obtainable solely by means of starch, so that particularly wax or fats cannot be in suspension. 'Aecordingly, owing to this secondary action, the percentage of gelatoids and colloses in such stiffening means was exceedingly Specification of Letters Patent.

Application filed May 8, 1918.

Patented July 4, 1922.

Serial No. 233,389.

small. Such colloidal bodies are. however, but little suited in their ordinary state for stiffening linen and for household use; for, in order to obtain a perfect solution of gelatin or glue for example, it is necessary to let these substances soak for hours in water, whereupon they can only then be completely liquefied by the action of heat. This difficulty is also met with in the case of albumin, gums and the like. Owing to using starch, however, housekeepers and domestics are accustomed to prepare the stiffening means for linen only shortly before using it. Another object of my invention is to provide that this habit is not interfered with even when using colloidal substances of the kind mentioned. 1

To this end, according to the invention a gelatose or other gelatinous substance or substances are converted, either singly or mixed together, into a granular or powdered state. I have found that substances of the kind mentioned in this state are at once dissolved and rendered uniformly liquid by simply pouring them into hot water. Owing to the non-necessity of soaking the powdered gelatinous substance as was necessary heretofore, a housekeeper can prepare the stiffening means immediately before using it. At the same time, a perfectly clear solution free from lumps is obtained in this manne whereby the described defects of the starch solution that are frequently occurring are obviated. As compared with starch my improved stiffening means has the additional advantage that on drying, and still more so on being ironed, it produces an improved gloss and, when used with colored linen articles, it is quite neutral, i. e., in no wayalters or impairs the color.

The quantity of gelatose or other gelatinous substance required for making the stiffening means, may, of course, vary in different cases. As a rule, for ordinary domestic purposes a solution may be used which when hot is considerably more liquid thanordinary starch, whereby the advantage is obtained that the stiffening means not only adheres to the surface of the linen, but also enters more or less into the pores and consequently after drying causes considerably greater stiffness than is the case with starch. The degree of stiffness can, of course, be regulated by varying the consistency of the solution. The various gelatinous substances cium salts.

on the market can be used singly in the form of powder or grains. Also, they may be mixed together as desired and .in any desired proportion, particularly when it is required that the stiffening means shall have certain definite properties. In. every case, however, it. is necessary for the gelatinous substances tobe in a powdered or granular state.

Such powdered or granular colloidal matter will have other substances mixed with them, particularly desiccating substances or salts, as e. g. borates, magnesium salts, cal- By admixing these drying substances the disadvantages of the hygroscopic properties of glue and gelatin are obviated. Any atmospheric moisture is absorbed principally by the desiccating subclosely envelop the individual grains of glue or gelatin, and therefore their sticking together. during storage is prevented. At the same time the dissolving process itself is greatly improved. Particularly, owing to using such admixtures it is possible toobtain a solution perfectly free from lumps by simply pouring the'mixture into hot water and stirring. When the desiccating substances or salts adhering to stances which the individual grains of colloidal substance reach the bottom ofthe vessel, they prevent the'individual grains of glue or the like from sticking together, so that the grains are separated from one another and each of them is accessible to the influence of the water; the desiccating substances are dissolved first in one place and then in another on the surface of the individual grains, con-- sequently the hot water can quickly dissolve the colloid, so that in a very short time zig zag shaped structures of colloid grains are formed which are immediately dissolved completely. The housekeeper'is thus provided with improved means adapted for use in the same manner as starch, to which she is accustomed.

Lastly, the addition of desiccating substances has the additional advantage that all stickiness of the stiffening means on the stiffened or washed linen articles is avoided,

' or greatly diminished. This is particularly the case when the means is com osed, as may frequently be desirable, not of actual glue or gelatin, but of other substances, having similar properties, such as e.

milk-sugar,

g. gum-a'rabic, agar-agar, dextrin, casein, albumin, sugar, grape-sugar, t ragacanth, whloh These admixtures may of course also be used mixed together as desired.

, If desired, desiccating substances having a disinfecting action may be used, such as e. g. boracic acid, borax, benzoate of soda, salicylic acid,salicylate of soda, easily soluble soziodol and the like.

Other disinfectants mav of course be added if desired, particularly when it is wished to subject the linen to a disinfecting action-by means of such agents.

It is to be understood that the word linen includes not only articles made of linen but also all kinds of body-linen, household-linen and the like which have been starched heretofore.

I claim 1. A soluble composition for stiffening linen comprising of powdered gelatin in admixture with a desiccating agent.

2. A soluble composition for stiffening linen comprising of powdered gelatin in admixture with a deslccating agent and adisinfecting agent.

3. A soluble composition for stiffening linen comprising of powdered gelatin in admixture with a soluble salt of carbonic acid.

' 4. A soluble composition for stiffening linen-comprising of powdered gelatin in admixture with sodium carbonate.

5. A soluble composition for stiffening linen consisting of powdered gelatin in admixture with a soluble salt of carbonic acid and a disinfecting agent.

6. A soluble composition for stiffening linen consisting of powdered gelatin in admixture with sodium carbonate and boracic acid. I

In testimony whereof I have aflixed my signature in presence of two witnesses.

DR. OSKAR LOBECK.

. Witnesses:

O'r'ro E. FoEPKE, RosA STAHL. 

